Stan Van Gundy says Gilbert Arenas definitely will play in Game 5

April 25, 2011|By Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

After scoring 20 points and playing a key role off the bench Sunday night, guard Gilbert Arenas definitely will play when the Orlando Magic host the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 Tuesday night at Amway Center.

"I'm not stupid!" Stan Van Gundy said after the Magic completed practice today.

"Yeah, he's going to get his opportunity again tomorrow. There's no question. I think that he played great. I've tried to say this in his defense all year: If you look, last night with J-Rich out, he knew he would get more extended minutes. So I think he plays more — I'm not going to say 'relaxed' — but more confidently that he doesn't have to worry that it's going to be a four- or five-minute stint.

"I'm not going to sit him out tomorrow after what he did. We'll see how it goes. We'll see what adjustments they make to his pick-and-rolls."

Arenas was benched for the second half of Game 2 and all of Game 3, but he played in Game 4 because of Jason Richardson's one-game suspension for an altercation with Zaza Pachulia.

In Richardson's absence, Arenas shot 9-for-18 from the field, gathered five rebounds and had two assists.